For 3 successive years earlier than 2025, Iga Swiatek has arrived at Wimbledon with the headlines centred round her. The largest narrative arc of the ladies’s draw on the Championships could be if Swiatek might take her clay kind, the place she has gained 4 French Open titles and the earlier three back-to-back, to the grass. Her strengths and weapons are so suited to the high-bouncing crushed brick that the slick, fast-playing grass the place the ball stays low would give her hassle as she instantly transitioned from a taxing marketing campaign in Paris.
This 12 months, the Polish 24-year-old evaded the pre-tournament expectations altogether. Together with her clay crown having been taken away within the semifinal a couple of weeks prior, her rating slipping so low that she was seeded eighth at Wimbledon, and her trophyless run extending past one 12 months, she was not anticipated to play even a disruptor function at SW19.
On Wednesday, she confirmed simply how helpful it may be to fly beneath the radar. Following a efficiency that will not have been commanding however was constant and safe – a blueprint for her success all through this event – Swiatek defeated nineteenth seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 within the quarterfinal to achieve the ultimate 4 for the primary time at Wimbledon.
That first #Wimbledon semi-final feeling ☺️ pic.twitter.com/Jh248MKyVS
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Neither winners nor serves or returns proved to be the important thing. As a substitute, it was the restraint she held and the calm she confirmed in swatting apart a spirited fightback from a rising challenger. Simply as Samsonova constructed up momentum and produced her greatest, Swiatek didn’t overreact – going for giant groundstrokes or taking part in too aggressive – however as a substitute rode out the storm, hanging in rallies with extra impartial pictures and discovering the best time to tug the set off.
Swiatek could have been a arrange, however within the second, at 5-5, she trailed 0-30. That was precisely the sort of second the place she would beforehand crack. However with confidence again in her recreation after a strong run (regardless of her sky-high requirements) on the French Open and having reached a last at a grass tuneup in Germany this month, she dug deep and stayed calm to knock a couple of winners and inside a couple of minutes, put her opponent away decisively.
She is now solely the fourth energetic participant – after Victoria Azarenka, Karolina Pliskova, and Aryna Sabalenka – to achieve the ultimate 4 at every of the 4 Grand Slam tournaments.
The concept grass is Swiatek’s Achilles’ heel could also be a bit exaggerated – she gained the junior title on the All England Membership again in 2018. As a substitute, it’s her strategy that has typically failed her. Enjoying ultra-aggressive on a regular basis allowed her to place collectively a commanding run between 2022 and 2024, through which she held on to the World No. 1 rating for many of it and blasted previous opponents with dismay. Nowhere was this attribute extra pronounced than at Roland Garros.
“I’ve already acquired goosebumps”
Iga Swiatek’s loving her time at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6OaGPKqqKn
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
However arriving at Wimbledon instantly after all the time got here with its challenges. Her excessive western grip makes the serve-to-forehand transition a tad slower, making her serve weak when she is rushed. Her topspin-laden forehand doesn’t discover the zip when she meets the ball exterior her hitting zone because it bounces low on grass. Coco Gauff shares each these attributes, and after successful the French Open this 12 months, she was out within the first spherical at Wimbledon.
However with time and a little bit grass courtroom expertise beneath her toes – aided by the draw opening up as prime seeds fell early – she has discovered success with out altering her recreation however her taking part in fashion. Slightly than going for broke on each level, she goes into her toolbox to search out these deft touches, drop pictures, and web finishes. Her serve has additionally been unusually strong: she has gained 77.4% of the factors on her first serve at Wimbledon, per Opta, which is the best within the ladies’s draw.
Jazda! 🇵🇱
Iga Swiatek defeats Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 to achieve her first #Wimbledon semi-final 👏 pic.twitter.com/AWlIo5Jsbg
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Within the semifinal on Thursday, she faces Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. The unseeded 28-year-old has made a exceptional run at SW19 only a 12 months after giving delivery, regardless of having missed all of the Majors in 2024. She too, discovered some luck with the draw, after which performed a formidable match to beat seventh-seeded Mirra Andreeva in two tiebreakers on Wednesday.
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Swiatek’s newfound serenity is working, however will probably be put to the take a look at within the coming few days. For now, the grass should positively really feel greener on her aspect.